Yuletide Cheer

Right up front, let me mention that I forgot to take pictures for most of the events surrounding Christmas. However, it was a very good and nice celebration involving many reunions with friends old and new. And lots of snow. Yay.

Justin obviously didn't get what he wanted.
That's a sweet sweater vest, huh? Picked it out myself. Kind of.

Andrew wasn't much interested in any new toys for Christmas...

Christmas Eve PJ's.

Our white elephant gifts from Tiff's party

Troy is awesome.Andrew with GrandpaKatie playing DS. Poor Kimball and Cole got no time with their DS's because the grown-ups kept stealing them.

Seasonal Affective Disorder...

I think I have it.

Today, Justin came home for lunch and as I was telling him about how we don't have any milk and I haven't changed the burned out light bulbs because both would involve going outside, he looked at me with this awestruck look on his face and said, "You really hate winter, don't you?"

Does he think I've been joking for the past three years?

Have I been unclear with my feelings? I thought I explained it rather well here. And here. And here. (If you're too lazy to look at those links, they all refer to my feelings regarding the season.)

If anyone has misunderstood me in the past, let me again explain. I don't like winter. I don't like snow. I don't think it's pretty. I don't think it's romantic. I don't like winter clothes. I don't like coats. I don't like being cold. I don't like snowshoeing. I don't like winter camping.

That being said, and because I'm such an optimist, I have found two things about winter that I DO rather like.

Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses. Hello.

My "ugly" sweater. I have more than one ugly sweater, but this seems to be receiving the most ridicule this season. I don't know why Justin hates it. It only cost $4.97. And I didn't even pay for it. I found it in a closet at my mom's house and no one will admit to buying it. Weird.

Recent Scoopage

So, now that Justin and I are both studying for tests, the boring level of our house is seriously skyrocketing. Can't wait for the new year when we're both done. And we are excited for Christmas, even though we can't spend the time we'd like celebrating. Boo for tests, yay for the blessing of education.

In the meantime, we finally found a fruit Andrew will eat.

Why, you may ask, would a wee babe like grapefruit? We don't know. I have a serious sour tooth (I LOVE sour foods...it's been rumored that I drank lemon juice as a child) and apparently it's hereditary.

Also in the headlines, my sweet parents have been called to serve as mission president (and mission mom) for the next three years, starting in July 2009. They will find out where their assignment is in the spring, but they do know for sure that they will be assigned to a Spanish speaking mission. Justin and I are completely ecstatic about the mission and particularly excited about the Spanish part. They will do a phenomenal job.This is a pre-mission picture, so don't judge me...

And this little rugrat is coming along nicely. Even though the whole "percentile" thing totally threw me off before I had Andrew, what I gather from the data is that he is tall, normal weight, and has a huge noggin.

Uno

Ping pong balls. Loves them. Thanks Nanna & Papa.
He was very interested when opening this gift. What was it, you ask? His monkey. We figured he'd like it way better than anything we could buy him.

Jack was very interested in opening the presents. Andrew, not so much. However, Jack convinced him how cool this toy is. Thanks G&G Martin!

The cake was a total success. Well, not total. It looked pretty ugly, due to my lack of dedication. But Andrew liked it. Except when he inhaled a bit and it tickled his nose.

Jack liked the cake too. It was supposed to be a Ding Dong cake. Turned out to be a Ding Dong cake gone awry.

For some reason, in this picture, Andrew looks like Andy from "The Office."

Still not walking on his birthday...But he's very cautiously trying.

The cute "one" onesie provided by Brittney, aka Domestic Goddess.

The Square

Bad family picture, but please note the use of my mission coat. It's back, and it's better than ever. Boo ya.
Andrew told me that Papa is his best friend.

Does it kind of look like my mom has lighted antlers? Man, she gets cooler every day.

Lovin' it.

It's the way we roll...

What exactly constitutes a tradition? We don't know. When we got married, Justin was concerned that my family can be thoroughly entertained by sitting in the same room for days on end, playing made-up games and not showering. He's come to the dark side now, though. Even though I couldn't tell you a specific tradition we have, being with my family is always rockin'.

Elena is SO cute...she was showing me her painted nails here.

PS. No makeup allowed at Thanksgiving.

These two are weirdos. I have a lot of pictures of Justin and Kimball making funny faces.

Eddie was mad that his mama was holding someone else.

ColeyMan, vanquishing the foe with his sword.

Climbing the stairs was pretty much all Andrew did for four days.

Lauren is awesome. Ask for a normal picture and this is what you get. Gummy worm moostachios.